More than 500 teens are expected to submit their proposals and brainstorm with Chicago officials

Receive the latest national-international updates in your inbox

More than 500 teens are expected to submit their proposals and brainstorm with Chicago officials Saturday afternoon, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

As violence continues to grip Chicago, area teens are presenting their ideas on how to curb the seemingly endless violence to city leaders Saturday.

More than 500 teens are expected to submit their proposals and brainstorm with Chicago officials Saturday afternoon at the Youth Solutions Congress. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is expected to attend the event.

The youths have come up with solutions to issues surrounding Chicago such as jobs and education.

Dr. Richard Jones, senior vice president of community investment from United Way Chicago, reportedly addressed the teens and emphasized the importance of young advocates.

"Youth Solutions Congress improves youth opportunities by allowing young people to directly impact Chicago policies," one of the attendees tweeted.

The groups goals for the day are to share their opinions on the biggest issues facing Chicago youth, discuss and debate solutions, choose top 15 solutions and commit to being advocates.

The President's speech called for "commonsense" reforms such as comprehensive background checks and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

But he acknowledged that violent crime isn't just a gun issue. He said it's also a matter of building communities and shared and personal responsibility.

To strengthen families and communities, the president called for an expansion of early childhood education, the growth of programs similar to Chicago's "College to Careers" program, and tax breaks to business owners to hire and invest in rough neighborhoods.

A man is being held on $3 million bond in connection with McFarlane's murder.